2023
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October 10th
PRESIDENT’S NEET June Schofield 
All the Presidents - Ladies and Men
On this evening, we will remember all our previous Presidents by reflecting on their contributions to the Society and by reading their favourite dialect poems and stories. |
November 14th
"Off the Cuff" Presented by Clare McKee Performance Poet, Artist, Digital Artist 
Clare wrote in verse when taking a sabbatical from a long and varied career in nursing, including 14 years in the NHS in Rochdale. She subsequently became known as a performance or spoken word poet.
Her talk will draw on this early writing in a style that is spontaneous and extempore inviting the audience to participate or to challenge with words of their own choice. She is especially pleased to speak/perform her work at EWDS as she never forgot the Lancashire dialect poem she learnt as a child from an elderly neighbour who had heard it recited by her four great uncles, one of whom had been an original Rochdale Pioneer. Clare will offer some of her art work as cards in limited editions with proceeds to EWDS. |
December 12th
"A Merry Yuletide" Kesmas Party 
On this evening, members are invited to present their favourite dialect item with a Christmas theme, be it a poem, story or song.
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In the Chair
June Schofield |
In the Chair
Jim Saville |
In the Chair
Alison Cooper |
2024
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January 9th
"Lancashire - A Lost Heritage" Dr Paul Salveson MBE 
Paul is a writer and historian, mostly covering aspects of Lancashire history and culture. His new book 'Lancastrians: Mills, Mines and Minarets' (Hurst &Co. 2023) explores Lancashire identity - past, present and future - and asks if there could be an opportunity for a 'Greater Lancastria' which restores at least some of the historic county.
In the Chair
Dave WOOD |
February 13th
Lancashire Folk Night Poetry and Song 
In the Chair Jim Saville |
March 12th
Annual Suppering-Do Edwin Waugh’s Birthday Celebration and Trophy Presentation Evening More details of the supper here. 
Trophies Presented by
Stewart Chadwick In the Chair Stewart Chadwick |
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April 9th
7:00pm Annual General Meeting 7:30pm approx "A Neet wi' Sam Fitton o' Shay" presented by Alyson Brailsford 
Sam Fitton originally worked in the local cotton mills but he went on to make a living as a skilled illustrator & cartoonist, poet, dialect writer and performer.
A number of his verses - 'Eawr Sarah's Getten a Chap' and 'My Owd Case Clock' - became standards in the dialect repertoire. Fitton was also a marvellous mimic and comic entertainer. He was above all a Lancashire man with a Lancashire view of the world, or as one of his friends described him, 'a gradely man with a gradely sense of humour'. In the Chair
John Pye |
May 14th
"Lancashire and its Cotton Industry" songs by Mark Dowding Mark developed an interest in the songs of Lancashire in his schooldays by listening to Harry Boardman singing on various LPs. Mark eventually found himself at Harry’s folk club in Manchester for a few years and the banjo that Mark plays is one of Harry’s. 
In the Chair
Marilyn Moore |
June 11th
"Tom's 'Crinkum-crankum' Crankies" presented by Tom Byrne 
Join performer and artist Thomas Byrne as he showcases some of crankie theatre scrolls. Tom was kindly funded by the Arts Council to research this fascinating art form which involves a performer using a hand cranked, illustrated scroll to tell stories, sing songs, or recite poetry. Tom will also be talking about his introduction to the Lancashire dialect and how he’s now incorporating dialect into his crankie work… The term ‘crinkum-crankums’ was discovered in a glossary of the dialect by W.E.A.Axon and means ‘odds and ends/curiosities’ so prepare yourself for something odd, curious, and hopefully entertaining! In the Chair
Alyson Brailsford |
Special Summer Weekend Gathering
Rochdale Town Hall Photos |
Monument stands in Broadfield Park, Rochdale, Lancashire.
The pictured face, one of four, is dedicated to Edwin Waugh. Upper inscription reads: Edwin Waugh Born Rochdale, 27th Jan'y 1817 Died New Brighton, 30th April 1890 "Come whoam to thi childer an me" Lower inscription reads: In grateful memory of four Rochdale writers of the Lancashire dialect who have preserved for our children, in verse and prose that will not die, the strength and tenderness, the gravity and humours of the fold of our day, in the tongue and talk of the people. This memorial was erected A.D. 1900. The other faces are dedicated to Oliver Ormerod, Margaret Rebecca Lahee, and John Trafford Clegg. |
